Sebastian Abreu's long professional career has taken him to countries across the world. Photo by Raphael Dias/Getty Images

Uruguayan striker Sebastian Abreu has set the world record for the most professional clubs played for after signing a deal with Audax Italiano, the 26th team in his career, according to his new side.

The 41-year-old, who made 70 appearances for Uruguay in a 16-year spell and played in three World Cups, announced this week he will compete for Audax Italiano, a side in Chile's first division, after leaving another team in the same league, Puerto Montt.

A former Deportivo La Coruna player, Abreu tweeted: "I inform you that Audax Italiano will be my next club for the 2018 season and we will have ahead of us the league, Copa Chile and Copa Sudamericana, this being my 17th participation in a team playing at CONMEBOL level. On Jan. 9 we will begin pre-season, with a lot of enthusiasm and dreams."

Nicknamed "El loco," Abreu had been tied with German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannestiel, with each having played for 25 teams.

A statement from Audax Italiano said: "Sebastian Abreu has become the club's new reinforcement. The Uruguay striker achieves the "Guinness Record" for the player to have played in the most number of clubs in the history of football."

Abreu has scored 400 goals in a career that began at Uruguayan side Defensor Sporting.

He hit the back of the net 11 times for Puerto Montt in Chile's first division B this season.